Manchester Arena Inquiry: Bomber's brother is a coward, families say

The elder brother of the Manchester Arena bomber has "taken the coward's way out" by leaving the country, families of the victims have said.

Ismail Abedi had been ordered to attend the inquiry into the bombing but it emerged this week he had left the UK.

He has refused to answer questions from the public inquiry into the 2017 attack in case he incriminates himself.

In a statement read outside court, the victims' families said his "absence speaks volumes".

Twenty-two people were killed and hundreds more injured when Salman Abedi detonated a bomb at the end of an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017.

Inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders had demanded Ismail Abedi appear as a witness but the 28-year-old left the UK on a flight to the Middle East, the BBC understands.

In a statement read outside the inquiry courtroom, the families of 11 of the victims said: "Our lives were torn apart and changed forever when Salman Abedi carried out his murderous attack.

"Since then, we have sought nothing but the truth, to understand what happened that night and why."

The families said they wanted to put on record their "horror" that he was able to leave the country.

"A man who had genuinely rejected extremism would want to help the search for truth and would have been here today," they said in the statement read on their behalf by Shane Smith, a member of the legal team at Slater & Gordon.

"Ismail Abedi is clearly not such a person but has taken the coward's way out."

The inquiry's solicitor wrote to Greater Manchester Police on 17 August asking to be told about anything that suggested Ismail Abedi might not comply with the order to appear as a witness, such as by leaving the country.

The inquiry heard Ismail Abedi was stopped trying to leave the UK on 28 August and questioned by police, which meant he subsequently missed his flight.

He told officers he intended to return to Britain but then returned to the airport the next day and was able to leave.

The inquiry only found out about his departure on 31 August, meaning it could not attempt to use legal powers to stop him leaving.

Paul Greaney QC, counsel to the inquiry, said Ismail Abedi had been "able to flee and effectively laugh in the face of the inquiry" and said such a thing should not be able to happen again.

"No-one should think the story is over so far as Ismail Abedi is concerned," he added.

Mr Greaney said Ismail Abedi's lawyers had written to the inquiry with a "self-serving and frankly quite disgraceful statement" that made plain he had decided not to come and answer questions.

Sir John said he wanted to know from Greater Manchester Police in detail about what happened, but said he did not want to "rush to judgement".

"We all wanted him to be here to answer questions," he said.

Duncan Atkinson QC, representing several bereaved families, said they "have the very gravest of concerns and the most extreme sense of frustration that this has occurred".

He added that the relevant powers under the inquiries act provisions may not be "fit for purpose".

The parents of bomb victims Liam Curry and Chloe Rutherford said they were "incredibly frustrated" that he had failed to attend.

In a statement, Caroline Curry and Mark and Lisa Rutherford said: "Answers are urgently needed so that we can understand how this was allowed to happen."

Ahmed Taghdi, a close friend of Salman Abedi, has also denied that he tried to "do a runner" after being ordered to give evidence to the inquiry.

The 29-year-old told the hearing he was going on a "little break" hiking in Slovakia when he was arrested at Manchester Airport on Monday.

He denied trying to flee the UK to avoid questions about his close relationship with the bomber.

Mr Taghdi, who was brought to the inquiry in police custody, said he and his sister had intended to fly to Vienna then back to the UK via Palma in time for his court appearance.

The inquiry was shown photos from his laptop and phone, seized after his arrest in the days after the bombing, which the court heard depicted armed Islamist militants.

But he denied holding extremist views or that Salman Abedi ever spoke of his extremism.

Mr Taghdi also told the inquiry he made a prison visit to convicted terrorist Abdalraouf Abdallah with Salman Abedi as a "social visit" because he "felt sorry" for Abdallah.

The court has previously heard Abdallah is alleged to have radicalised the bomber.

Mr Taghdi also denied knowing that Salman and Hashem Abedi were going to use a car, which he helped them to buy, to store explosives.

He said the brothers told him they needed the car to carry out "errands" before they left the country and he had helped as a favour.

Neither Mr Taghdi or Ismail Abedi have been charged with any offences.

The inquiry continues.

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [email protected]